Demands of Rugby Liam Hennessy Apr 2006 June 2005 Powerade IRFU
What type of activity is Rugby? Multi-activity, multi-skilled, multi-phased and multi-paced Duration of game = 80 mins + Energy systems that predominate = ATP- CP, Anaerobic glycolysis ( Glycogen system), Aerobic system
Review of 6-Nations 2005 Average Match time = 91 m 24 sec 2004 = 90.26 2003 = 88.49 2002 = 89.41 Average ball in play time RWC 99 = 30m.35 sec Average Ball in play time = 35 m 28 sec 2004 = 41.5 2003 = 39.5 2002 = 36.40 Club Amateur ~ 30 mins
6-Nations Review 2005 Play time: 91m 24 sec average Range: 85-96.5 mins Ball in play: 35m28secaverage Average 44% of play time
6-Nations Review 2005 Activity cycles (what happens when ball in play): Duration 5-70 seconds on average Average = 25 seconds Work:Recovery Ratio typically 1:2
Rugby is: Power
Rugby is: Evasion
Rugby is: Multi-Direction
Distance covered (Deutsch et al 1998) Front 5: Activity Total dist (km) Av dist (m) Freq Total dist 4.4 -- -- Walk 1.0 14 73 Jog 3.05 22 143 Cruise.363 14 26 Sprint.094 20 4
Distance covered (Deutsch et al 1998) Back Row: Activity Total dist (km) Av dist (m) Freq Tot Dist 4.08 Walk.992 13 76 Jog 2.94 29 154 Cruise.368 11 33 Sprint.094 15 6
Distance covered (Deutsch et al 1998) Backs: Activity Total dist (km) Av dist (m) Freq Tot Dist 5.75 Walk 1.74 14-22 132-120 Jog 2.6 16-20 159-139 Cruise.565 13-11 43-45 Sprint.297 19-24 12-15
Physical contact and changes of Activity (Deutsch et al 1998) Front 5 Activity Frequency Scrum 35 Mauls, Rucks 72 Intense static 104 Changes of activity 639
Physical contact and changes of Activity (Deutsch et al 1998) Back Row Activity Frequency Scrum 35 Mauls, Rucks 78 Intense static 113 Changes of activity 693
Physical contact and changes of Activity (Deutsch et al 1998) Backs Activity Frequency Scrum 0 Mauls, Rucks 12-9 Intense static 12-9 Changes of activity 599-542
Multi-Activities of Forwards Some of the activities for Forwards: Scrum, Ruck, Maul, lineout jump, lineout lift, collision, tackle, ankle tap, dive to tackle, fall, get up, roll and get up, stumble and reset, drive against opponent, accelerate in straight line, change direction during acceleration, take pass at pace, flying speed, reverse, sideways, squat to drive, shielding..repetition xxxx
Multi-Activities of Backs Some of the activities for Backs: Collision, tackle, ankle tap, dive to tackle, fall, get up, roll and get up, stumble and reset, drive against opponent, accelerate in straight line, change direction during acceleration, take pass at pace, flying speed, reverse, sideways, squat to drive, shielding..repetition xxxx
Implications for Conditioning? Requirement for pace/speed (type?) Requirement for strength & Power (type) Requirement for Aerobic fitness Requirement for multi-sprint/activity Fundamental power positions and coordinated movement ability
What does all this mean? Mimic the demands of the sport: MERCS Aerobic/Anaerobic conditioning in the form of controlled game and activity drills Work:Rest Teach/Coach power positions Use Weight Training* to build general strength and power Use Speed/Agility training Use Prehab training to reduce risk of injuries
MERCS Muscles used Energy system Range of movement Contraction type Skill of sport
What does all this mean? Interval type training methods will enhance specific movement pattern fitness and will help the player be better at buffering the metabolic effects of all-out short duration efforts. Training should mimic the demands of the sport and not copy the programmes of athletes competing in capacity events such as middle distance or long distance events. Recent evidence shows greater injury rate in forwards if traditional interval training completed (Gabbeth 2001, Brooks 2005)
Resistance Training (Weights, circuits, field drills..) Olympic & Power Lifts Prehab (individualised) Auxillary exercises: (Body part and supplementary exercises) Complex-Contrast training with rugby specific movement as complex/contrast e.g squat then viper accelerate to side step Programme design and format must follow MERCS
Summary Multi-activity Huge need for Multi-skills Prehab becoming more important Specialists required even within Fitness & Conditioning Close working relationship not only with Coach but with other support members (Doc, Physio, Therapist)
What does all this mean? When aerobic fitness is at a reasonable level (~50ml/kg/min) then: Aerobic training of little if any important in developing fitness to endure 30 seconds of allout effort Aerobic fitness of little if any important in assisting recovery from maximal interval type bouts of activity lasting 60 seconds and repeated after 5 minutes recovery
Aerobic Training for the Rugby player? Its role in Recover following intense efforts Bell et al 1997 Can J of Applied Physiology Vol 22 (1)78-85 No relationship between aerobic indices and recovery
Aerobic Training for the Rugby player? Study looked at: VO2 max, TVent, HRmax, PO at VO2 max, BLactate at VO2 max, VT, PO at VT, Submax VO2, HR, Blactate, Net efficiency at 200W Recovery after 1 min supramax followed by 5 mins rest x 3 reps nusing 125% of PO of VO2 max
Aerobic Training for the Rugby player? Oxidative metabolism contributes only 3% of the energy produced in a 10 second,supramaximal test and 9%-28% in a 30 sec supramaximal test (Bar-Or 1987, Kavanagh & Jacobs 1988, Serresse et al 1988)
Aerobic Training for the Rugby player? Crielaard & Pirnay Eur J Appl P. 47 293-300, 1981 = Inverse relationship (-0.83) between aerobic power and peak power in sprinters, middle,long distance runners Koziris et al J Stren Con Res. 10 (1) 35-39, 1996 = Decreasing role of aerobic power with decreasing duration of maximal-effort. 10% of variance in anaerobic power over 10 seconds accounted for by aerobic power in males with similar VO2max to Rugby players